Northwest Aerospace News June | July Issue No. 15 | Page 59

PACIFIC NORTHWEST AEROSPACE ALLIANCE SPOTLIGHT
Silicon Forest Electronics
One of PNAA’s very accomplished
board members is Frank Nichols,
the CEO, President and Founder of
Silicon Forest Electronics (SFE).
Frank has a long career in high-tech
electronics in defense and aerospace
technology, and his own company
has operated these past 20 years
near the Columbia River. Grounded
in the aerospace industry, SFE built
a strong reputation in the mil-aero
supply-chain, and even acquired
NADCAP certification this last year.
However, over the years the company
has stabilized their production
mix, building long-term client
relationships in multiple industry
sectors, including medical, emerging
robotic technology, electrified transportation
and unmanned aviation and
ground systems, including driverless
land vehicles with collision avoidance
systems. During the COVID-19
pandemic, SFE has remained open as
a critical, essential supplier.
In short, SFE’s mission is to make a
positive and profound impact working
with clients that have unique and
complex requirements.
Jay Schmidt, the Vice-President &
General Manager of SFE, looks to
the east when he says that “Portland
and Vancouver are at the gateway to
one of the largest unmanned aerial
systems clusters in the world.”
With some of the “giants” in the
unmanned systems world such as
Boeing-Insitu and Collins Aerospace,
and a variety of technology developers
and manufacturers located
in the Columbia River Gorge, the
region is poised for future growth of
unmanned vehicles.
JUNE | JULY 2020 ISSUE NO. 15 59